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“What is the core of that protest, and why is it increasing in terms of the people it’s attracting?” Vice President Joe Biden recently said. “The core is the bargain has been breached with the American people. The American people do not think the system is fair or on the level.” And Democratic whip Steny Hoyer defended the movement from criticism from House leader Eric Cantor, who called the group a "mob."

“I don’t know whether Mr. Cantor watched any of the town meetings that we had in August of ‘09,” Hoyer said, according to talkradionews.com. “They were much more confrontational in many respects than these demonstrations are. This is a democracy and one of the good aspects of democracy is people get the opportunity to express their concerns and hope that action will be taken to address those grievances....One of the problems that we have in this country is that a minority controls the United States Senate and that the majority of the representatives of the United States Senate are precluded, too often, from considering the merits of proposals which have a majority support but not 60 votes support,” he said. “I think that’s unfortunate.”

One would think that the Democratic establishment's embrace of Occupy Wall Street would preclude these politicians from fraternizing with those whom the protesters are directing their anger toward. But that doesn't seem to be the case.

Today, at a State Department luncheon featuring the South Korean president, Biden and Hoyer are sharing a table with Lewis B. Kaden, the vice chairman of Citigroup bank, Michael K. Wirth, Chevron Corporation's executive vice president for Downstream & Chemicals, and banker James B. Flaws, vice chairman and chief financial officer of Corning Incorporated.

The luncheon will feature a mix of Sky Blue, Cerulean Blue, and Apple Green linens inspired by the beauty, color and tranquility of the South Korean mountain range. The floral arrangements will be comprised of a mix of Pink Lotus flowers and bamboo branches.

Today's pooler, Jennifer Epstein of Politico, adds: "A harpist welcomed more than 200 guests to the eighth floor of the State Department, leading them to drinks in an anteroom and, from there, into the Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room, a high-ceilinged space with eight chandeliers that State’s website says are Adam-style cut-glass."